NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson today announced that its affiliate Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Janssen) has entered into a novel collaboration with the Stichting International Dispensary Association(IDA), a procurement agent for the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility (GDF), to facilitate access to the Company's anti-tuberculosis medicine. This public-private partnership was established by the newly formed Janssen Global Public Health and is the latest in the Company's overall efforts to improve public health.

"Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a complex public health problem," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson and Worldwide Chairman of Janssen. "We feel we have a responsibility to work together with others in the TB community in order to tackle this challenge."

More than 130 low- and middle-income countries outside of the United States will now be able to obtain this new anti-tuberculosis medicine through the procurement processes of GDF and its agent, the IDA.

"We are committed to enhancing access to medicines through public-private partnerships, differentiated pricing and responsible use and distribution of medicines," said Adrian Thomas, M.D., Vice President of Global Market Access at Janssen. "We believe that the collaboration with the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility is a good example of how we can contribute to the collective global access response for public health medicines."

Janssen has a long legacy of working to improve access to and appropriate use of medicines for diseases of great unmet need, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other diseases impacting the developing world and emerging markets.

"Our goal is to work with the GDF to facilitate access while ensuring appropriate use of medicines," says Wim Parys, M.D., R&D Head, Global Public Health at Janssen.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to advancing global health. Its family of companies has launched and continues to support a variety of comprehensive efforts toward strengthening the health of communities, improving maternal and child health, and preventing the spread of infectious and preventable diseases worldwide. For more information on Johnson & Johnson global health programs, visit www.jnj.com.

Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop sustainable, integrated healthcare solutions by working side-by-side with healthcare stakeholders, based on partnerships of trust and transparency. To learn more, visit www.janssen.com.

About Janssen Global Public Health

The Janssen Global Public Health (Janssen GPH) group complements the groundbreaking science of the Janssen Pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson with innovative strategies that improve access to medicines, foster collaborations, and support public health solutions to sustainably advance health care worldwide. Current areas of focus include multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); elephantiasis and river blindness; intestinal worms; and use of mobile technologies (mHealth) to improve health outcomes.

About Johnson & Johnson

Caring for the world, one person at a time…inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science ‒ bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 128,000 employees at more than 275 Johnson & Johnson operating companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.